Improvement in machines for milking cows



s. w. LOWE.

Milking Device.

Patented Aug. 9', 1859.

hur, Wnhin mn. n. C.

NITED STATES PATENT SAMUEL \V. LOIVE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR MILKING COWS.

To all 1072 0127, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. LOWE, of the city of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus forMilking Cows; andl do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in providing a cup on which is stretched adiaphragm perforated with holes for receiving the cows teats, and alsoadapted for being connected with an air pump in any suitable manner. Themoment the pump is set in motion the bag of the cow adapts itself to thediaphragm and fits so closely that no air can enter the cup. At the sametime the external pressure of the air, acting on the bag, forces themilk through the teats into the cup, from whence it passes through apipe to the pump, and is discharged from the latter into any convenientreceptacle.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the drawings which form a part -of this specification,Figure l is a sectional view of myapparatus for milking cows; Fig. 2, anexternal side View of the pump which forms a part of the apparatus; Fig.3, a sectional view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a sectional view of thesuction-valves on the line 1 2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5,a sectional view ofthe discharge-valve on the line 1 3, Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A is a funnel or other shaped cup of thin metal or other suitablesubstance, and on the top of this funnel is secured a diaphragm B ofleather, gum-elastic, or other like material, the top of which isslightly concave, in order to approximate as near as possible to theshape of the cows bag, and is perforated with four holes to receive thecows teats.

E is an elastic pipe, one end of which is attached to the bottom of thecup A, the other to the projection a on the barrel of the pump. In thisprojection are two chambers b and I), each of which communicates withthe inte rior of the pipe E through an orifice in the partition, eachorifice being furnished with a valve, the valve of one orifice openinginto one chamber and the valve of the other orifice into the-otherchamber.

The barrel of the pump is divided by a partition e into two compartments5 and 6. These have pistons attached to rods dd, which pass through theends of their respective compartments, on the outside of which they areattached to the cross-heads f and f, the latter being connected togetherby the upper and lower rods h and h. To the top of one of thecross-heads is jointed a rod G, the opposite end of which embraces thecranked portion of the shaft H, which turns in the top of the standardsJ and J, the latter, as well as the pump-barrel, being secured to thebase K. The chamber b communicates through an orifice with thecompartment 5 of the pumpbarrel and chamber 1) through another orificewith the compartment 6. On the barrel of the pump is another projection10, to which the end of the discharge-pipe M is attached, the interiorof the projection communicating through one orifice into one of thepump-compartments and through another orifice to the other compartment,both orifices having Valves, which open toward the discharge-pipe.

The operator is seated on a stool, to the front of which is attached thebase K of the pump. The stool being brought into proper position, theoperator places the cup underneath the cows bag, taking care that theteats enter the orifices in the diaphragm. By turning the handle N onthe crankshaft H a reciprocating motion is imparted'to the pistons, soas to produce a vacuum in the cup A. The moment this takes place the bagof the cow, by the external pressure of the atmosphere, adapts itself tothe diaphragm, so that no air can enter the cup, which consequentlyretains its hold without assistance. As the operator continues to turnthe handle a continuous exhaustion is maintained in the cup, so that themilk flowing from the teats enters the cup A, passes along the pipe E,enters first one compartment and then the other of the pump, accordingto the direction of the pistons, and is forced out into thedischarge-pipe M through one or the other of its entrances into thecompartments. Thus a constant flow of milk passes from the discharge-pipe into any convenientlysituated bucket as long as a supply remainsin the bag and the handle is turned.

It will be seen that the perforated diaphragm has a tendency to maintainthe bag of the cow in its natural position and to keep the teats in sucha state of suspension within the cup that the milk will flow freely fromthe same.

Disclaiming the broad principle of withdrawing the milk by means of apump or other exhausting apparatus, and also the devices described inthe application of John V. Kingman, rejected August 11, 1856, and thosedescribed in the rejected application of Robert Kershke, of St. Louis,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent The cup A with itsperforated diaphragm B, when constructed, as described, to receive allthe teats of the cows bag by having an opening in the diaphragm for eachteat and combined with an exhausting apparatus, constructedsubstantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

SAML. W. LOWE. Vvitnesses:

HENRY HOWSON, WILLIAM E. WALTON.

